How To Help Texas Victims Of Harvey, Floods

PROVIDENCE, RI — A 3-year-old clinging to a mother who died trying to save her. A veteran police officer drowned in his cruiser as he tried to report to work. Nursing home residents sitting in high water and waiting for rescuers. People standing on roof tops waving to helicopters for help. Three generations of a family swept away in a van. Lost and abandoned pets standing in their yards and watching water rise around them.

What should Rhode Islanders do to help Texas?

Gov. Gina Raimondo on Wednesday urged Rhode Islanders with the means to donate to the Red Cross. And Atty. Gen. Peter Kilmartin earlier suggested giving to the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and other reputable organizations that will direct the money to those in need.

"In times of natural disasters, it’s only natural to want to help those affected, but it’s important to remember to only donate to established charities that are mobilized and best able to help those in need,” said Kilmartin.

"A number of national organizations have already established relief efforts, including the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and Catholic Charities. Those charities have established ways to donate to the efforts:

American Red Cross

To donate, visit www.redcross.org, call 1-80-RED CROSS, or text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

The Salvation Army

To donate, visit www.givesalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-725-2769.

Catholic Charities USA

To donate, visit www.catholiccharitiesusa.org."

He suggested avoiding crowdfunding sites unless they're connected to a legitimate charity.

“The images coming out of Texas are heartbreaking, and the storm is expected to pound the area for several days. Texans are known for their resolve, and they will need every ounce of that resolve to get through the storm. Please continue to keep all those in Harvey’s path in your thoughts and prayers as they start to assess the damage and rebuild,” added Kilmartin.

Raimondo said "Rhode Islanders are kind and generous people, and since Harvey made landfall this weekend, the people of Texas and the Gulf Coast have been front of mind for all of us. We all have a role to play to help Texas recover and to support Harvey’s victims. The Rhode Island National Guard is on call, prepared to send support and equipment to assist the search and rescue teams on the ground."

If you want to help, make a contribution to the Red Cross by visiting www.RedCross.org or text ‘HARVEY’ to 90999 to make an immediate $10 contribution to the recovery effort.

Kilmartin noted the best way to help right now is by sending money.

But the Rhode Island Blood Bank is also appealing to people to give blood if they're able. To find out more, click here.

And what about the pets and animals?

Raimondo and Kilmartin made no recommendations about animal welfare groups, but Patch has learned several organizations are also in Texas helping pets and animals. Among them are:

ASPCA. To donate for Harvey victims, click here.

American Humane. To donate for Harvey relief, click here.

Humane Society of the United States. To donate for disaster relief, click here.

San Antonio Animal Care Services. To help the local shelter, click here.

Red Rover Responders. To help them provide a temporary shelter in North Texas, click here.

Top image: Andrew White (L) helps a neighbor down a street after rescuing her from her home in his boat in the upscale River Oaks neighborhood after it was inundated with flooding from Hurricane Harvey on August 27, 2017 in Houston, Texas. Harvey, which made landfall north of Corpus Christi late Friday evening, is expected to dump upwards to 40 inches of rain in Texas over the next couple of days.

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images